My Event Ratings

Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Where is the warning that should come with this race?? Fantastic race , lovely marshalls but soooo hard...not for beginners or the fainthearted
In full: I have run a few marathons and many halves in my time but this 10 has to rate amongst the hardest runs I have done. Hilly and cross country, mud and hard tracks followed by long grass made it even harder. However, the marshalls were plentiful and friendly and encouraging and the course was scenic which always helps. My only real complaint is the lack of water stations as I feel I would really have benefitted from another station between mile 3 and 8, especially as it was so warm today...maybe next year another could be added?? Loved the tshirt and although it was hard I may well be back....
Date of review: June 17, 2012

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		100%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: Not to be entered into lightly!
In full: Not the easiest place to find and with no warning of the distance from HQ to the start we would undoubtedly have been late starters were is not for the very kind marshall who gave us a lift to the start ..thank you. He warned us that the start was rather hilly but that it flattened out for the next 7 miles or so and then he went a bit vague...and rightly so because flat does not readily spring to mind when I relive the race! Those first few miles were as hideous as expected although the scenery spectacular .The marshalls were lovely and at no time did i get that sense of rush and urgency that so often accompanies road races..the chocolate and jelly babies very welcome although one more station would have been welcomed.What spoilt the race for me was not getting lost twice, nor was it the strong winds and rain that accompanied my last 4 miles..it was the finish...an overlong trek along a sparsely populated footpath, yet another trudge across a ploughed field and then the dreaded school field ( thank god we didn't have to run round it) to be greeted reluctantly by the finishing team who came out from behind their umbrellas /trees without so much as a cheer or smile to give us our mugs ( not that I don't sympathise with them...I am sure I would have found it hard to be enthusiastic in that weather after so many hours waiting but it would have been nice). As for the mug...well..it would have been a more welcome sight had it been filled with hot sweet tea....but, the food at the end looked plentiful and was no doubt much appreciated by those that had some and the showers were excellent . Not sure i would do it again as I am not a hill runner but I do have good memories and it certainly a race to be done even if it is only the once.
Date of review: September 12, 2011

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Maybe
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		20%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		20%

In short: The clue is in the title......so how come I missed it!My running partner said he would rather run a marathon and he hates marathons!
In full: Ouch! That was hard work.......I knew it wasn't an easy race and I knew not to expect a good time but I thought undulating would include a bit of flat but no.....downright hilly is what I would call it and bloomin' hard work. That aside it was great, scenery fantastic ....what a view at mile 8 ! The marshals were excellent, friendly, helpful,laid back and obviously enjoying it all. Fellow runners were chatty when possible ad encouraging as always.....felt sorry for the chap who told us it was his first half tho.....didn't deem keen to do another....talk about baptism with fire! Not sure I could do it again but maybe in a week when my body has recovered I might just be persuaded ....
Date of review: July 25, 2011

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Almost finished me off.......will be back for more next year!
In full: I love this race although I really don't know why as I hate hills and would normally avoid them at all costs. Fantastic marshalls although when I needed them between 17k and 23 they were nowhere to be seen..understandably as it was very remote....and by 25K...well who is going to give up with only 5k to go? Thanks very much to the race safety officer for his offers of a lift and promises that there were at least a few behind me.....got me to the end if nothing else! Back next year to try again and hopefully injury free
Date of review: February 15, 2011

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		100%
Value		100%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: The Hoodie made it all worthwhile!
In full: A hard race for me, as I am not a natural hill runner.....and have to admit by mile 17 had had enough of "undualting scenery" however, the hoodie was calling me and kept me going right up to that final spurt at the end ! Have done Stamford twice and strangly enough found that easier but we are all different....not sure I would put myself through it if I wasn`t doing a spring marathon but then again ask me in a few days time and the answer may be different
Thank you to all the marshalls for their excellent work and encouragment, sadly i missed the treats at the end and only found the water station but that was my fault...so pleased with the hoodie all thoughts of anything else went out of the window!
Date of review: March 30, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: So well orgnaised.....right down to the extra toilets in car parks!
In full: One of my absolute all time favourites..it gets bigger each year but the organisation is such that everything still seems to run with ease and as a runner I feel "looked after". great crowds, good marshalling, fantastic finish ( do hate the final 3 miles...a bit soleless but even that seems to improve each year) Brought a running friend with me this year as a spectator and he is now desperate for next year when he can run it too.....well done Reading!
Date of review: March 26, 2010

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Overall score		100%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		40%
Atmosphere		100%
Organisation		100%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		80%

In short: Great race...hard work but had a ball!
In full: One of my favourite races....it`s tough..oh boy is it tough, especially for one who comes from a mainly flat part of the world...all those hills are killers! Ran with a friend this year who unfortunately really struggled so any thoughts of a pb were put out of my head and my main aim was to get my friend safely to the end, and what fun ( if you can call running in cold wet icy conditions fun!)we had, the marshalls were great...encouraging every step of the way even tho we must have been close to the back of the race..and other runners were great too..very encouraging and ready for a laugh.....I can`t wait to do it again and hopefully will be able to persuade my friend to come too...my turn for the chocolates next year!
Date of review: February 18, 2010

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		80%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		80%
Organisation		80%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		100%

In short: One of my favourites!
In full: Not sure why but I love this race and have done it every year since 2006. SHOUld really have cancelled this year as had a heavy cold but once I was out in the countryside I felt great...clear head and nose, peace and quiet and although there are a few hills I found the whole thing enjoyable, I wasn`t there to race ( too ill to do that) but treated it as a training run with good company! Can`t wait for next year....
Date of review: December 29, 2009

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Overall score		80%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		40%
PB potential		80%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		60%

In short: Great race, good weather, good support and easy course.
In full: Really enjoyed todays race, took it easy as running with a friend and felt great all the way round..could easily have gone on another few miles! I don`t know where people were parking but I parked in the shopping center where it was £1 all day....
Date of review: October 13, 2009

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Overall score		60%
Would you do it again?		Yes
Details:
Scenery		60%
PB potential		60%
Atmosphere		60%
Organisation		60%
Value		80%
Beginner-friendliness		40%

In short: Good race, rather too many hills for me to be comfortable but I expected that...a
In full: Enjoyed today, weather perfect for running, as I said coming from a rather flat part of the country i found the hills a challenge but in a good way, not a pb but not far off and I would do it again, the only slight niggle were the directions sent to me as it would have helped to have some milage on their..ie...2 miles after roundabout turn left onto .......the direction to just turn left onto....meant i missed the odd turning but other than that a good day!
Date of review: August 30, 2009

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